Acoustic Rhinometric Evaluation of Patients with Septal Deviation, before and after Septoturbinoplasty

Jae-Ho Kim, MD, Sang-Yeon Kim, MD, and Bong-Jae Lee, MD

Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

비중격 및 하비갑개 성형술 전후의 음향비강통기도검사를 통한 평가

김재호 · 김상연 · 이봉재

울산대학교 의과대학 서울중앙병원 이비인후과학교실

ABSTRACT

Acoustic rhinometry, which is based on the reflection of acoustic signal entering the nasal cavity, is a new method introduced to assess the geometry of the nasal cavity. We evaluated the mean value change of the minimal cross-sectional area(MCA) and the volume of the nasal cavity, before and after septoturbinoplasty. A group of 40 patients with septal deviation was examined with acoustic rhinometry preoperatively and postoperatively between August 1994 and May 1995. These values were compared with those of 17 normal control subjects. The results were as follows : 1) The minimal cross-sectional area(MCA) in control group was
0.53cm2 before decongestion and 0.62cm2 after decongestion(p>0.05). The volume in control group was
7.5cm2 before decongestion and 10.26cm2 after decongestion(p<0.05). 2) Acoustic rhinometric patterns were classified into two patterns(W and C patterns) according to existence of C notch. The most common acoustic rhinometric pattern in control group was W patterns(14cases) except C patterns(3 cases). 3) The minimal cross-sectional area(MCA) in patient group was
0.44cm2 preoperatively and 0.62cm2 postoperativrly(p<0.05). The nasal volume was
6.21cm3 preoperatively and 8.06cm3 postopertively(p<0.05). 4) The patient group(40cases) was divided two patterns(31C patterns and 9W patterns). W patterns were statistically significant in minimal cross-sectional area(MCA) and volume preoperatively except C patterns. 5) The postoperative MCA of satisfactory patient
group(0.47cm2) was larger than that of unsatisfactory patient
group(0.29cm2) and statistically significant(p<0.05). A highly significant relationship between MCA and the subjective feeling of nasal patency, before and after surgery, suggests that MCA is a valuable parameter to express nasal patency. Acoustic rhinometry seems very suitable for evaluation of the nasal cavity in cases where septoturbinoplasty considered, as well as for postoperative evaluation.